HERE IS MORE INFO THAT I JUST RECENTLY ADDED--
BELOW IS SOME INFO REGARDING MANY OF THE PROBLEMS INDIVIDUALS HAVE BROUGHT UP CONCERNING THE RAPTURE AND THE BIBLE.
"After reading countless messages and articles that attack the pre-trib rapture, I've noticed a certain number of arguments that are repeatedly sent to me.
Instead of trying to answer every individual e-mail I receive, I thought it would be a good idea to create a web page that addresses the most commonly mentioned points of debate. This way, I can avoid repeating myself so many times; thereby, maintain my sanity.
Nowhere in the Bible, can you find the word "rapture"
It amazes me that some folks write to me, questioning the validity of the rapture, simply because the word "rapture" doesn't appear in the Bible.
With 1 Thes 4:16-18 giving us such a clear description of the rapture, you would have to conclude that some people are just playing games with the Word of God. I could change the name of my site to “Catching Up Ready” to satisfy these folks, but I hardly think that would improve things.
Their logic fails because there are a huge number of words that don't appear in the Bible, including the word "Bible." Because God's Word was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, one could truthfully say that no English words are in the Bible. Let's take a look at 1 Thes 4:16-18 in the original Greek:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:16 oti autos o kurios en keleusmati en fwnh arcaggelou kai en salpiggi qeou katabhsetai ap ouranou kai oi nekroi en cristw anasthsontai prwton 4:17 epeita hmeis oi zwntes oi perileipomenoi ama sun autois arpaghsomeqa en nefelais eis apanthsin tou kuriou eis aera kai outws pantote sun kuriw esomeqa 4:18 wste parakaleite allhlous en tois logois toutois
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't see the dead in Christ rising, Jesus descending from heaven, and us meeting Him in the air. So the cynics are right: the word "rapture" is nowhere to be found. All I see is gobbledygook.
For the record, the word "rapture" comes from the Latin word "rapturo," which in turn was a translation of the Greek verb "caught up" found in 1 Thes 4:17. You can call it the pre-trib rapture, the pre-trib rapturo, or the pre-trib caught up--it's all the same thing.
Nowhere in the Bible does it directly say that the Church will be raptured before the tribulation.
Pre-trib opponents should have thought this one through because any pre-tribulationist has the same right to say, "Nowhere in the Bible does it directly say the Church will go through the tribulation."
Jesus did say, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 24:44). The only time frame I can think of when we believers would not be expecting Jesus to return would have to be before the tribulation.
The Margaret MacDonald Origin
One of the most widely circulated attacks against the pre-trib rapture is the notion that a girl named Margaret MacDonald started this theological view back in 1830. The claim is typically made that MacDonald received a demonic vision, passed it on to John Darby, who in turn popularized it. Disproving this assertion proves rather easy. Pre-trib scholars have discovered a host of rapture writings that predate Margaret MacDonald.
Epharaem the Syrian said, in 373 AD, "For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins."
One post-trib author offered a reward to anyone who could find a quote that predated MacDonald. He had to quickly cough up the money when someone identified a scholar who wrote about the pre-trib rapture several years before MacDonald. As of late, dozens of examples have been found, and the literary surface has hardly been scratched.
With the revealing of all these pre-MacDonald writings, you would think that this argument has been debunked. Unfortunately, this is not the case. We seem to be involved in a tug-of-war with the truth. Apparently, due to their lack of research, pre-trib opponents continue to pump out publications that cite MacDonald as the originator of the pre-trib rapture.
The Last Trumpet Argument
Because Paul, in 1 Cor. 15:52 and 1 Thes 4:16, said believers would be raptured at the sounding of a trump, many folks have tried to make it appear that the rapture trumps are the same trumpets found in Revelation 11:15-18, Joel 2:1, and Mat 24:31--which all occur during the tribulation.
When you have trumpets commonly used throughout the Bible, I think it's foolish to just assume any two of the 62 trumps or trumpets are prophetically related. To be able to make the claim that the tribulation trumpet soundings are the same as the rapture trumps, you would need a direct statement saying this is the case.
In the movies Ben-Hur and The Wizard of Oz, I recall hearing the sounding of trumpets. Are both these trumpets somehow prophetically related?
If your friend John said he went to his favorite restaurant last night, and another friend Larry said he also went to his favorite restaurant last night, is it logical for you to assume they both went to the same restaurant? Obviously not, because even though John and Larry went to their favorite restaurants, they may have had two different eating establishments in mind. The same logic should apply with the word trumpet.
With such a blind devotion to this one similarity, I have to wonder if these last-tumpeters are able to distinguish the difference between Tylenol and Exlax. They're both over-the-counter drugs, they come in pill form, and they can also be found in a medicine cabinet. Of course, one will make your headache disappear and the other will make your toilet paper disappear.
Pre-wrath proponents say that the Seventh Trumpet blown in Rev 11:15-18 is the same last trump Paul spoke of in 1 Cor 15:52. However, they fail to take into account the fact that John wrote Revelation 40 years after Paul wrote his first epistle to the Corinthians. How could Paul refer to something that was not yet revealed?
Post-tribbers use a trumpet sounding in Joel 2:1 as evidence for a post-trib rapture on the Day of the Lord. I have three problems with Joel 2:1:
1. Joel clearly says that the purpose for blowing the trumpet is to "sound an alarm."
2. According to 1 Cor 15:52, the rapture is something that occurs in the twinkling of an eye. Joel 2:1 says the Day of the Lord is nigh at hand. In order for Joel's trumpet to be the same one in 1 Cor. there would have to be a time delay between the sounding of the trumpet and the rapture of the Church.
3. The fact that there is another trumpet being sounded in Joel 2:15 further clouds the possibility that these trumpets could have anything to do with the rapture.
When Paul was writing to the Corinthians, he specifically said "the" last trump. During the Feast of Trumpets, the Jews blow short trumpet blasts. They end the feast with a long blast from what is called the last trump, which is blown the longest. Judaism has traditionally connected this last trump with the resurrection of the dead. Paul also made the connection. For many Christians, the association between the rapture and the Feast of Trumpets is so strong, they look for the rapture to someday occur on this feast.
The Day of the Lord Argument
A number people have attempted to refute the pre-trib rapture by trying to associate the "Day of the Lord" with a catching-up of believers at the end of the tribulation. They base their rapture views solely on the idea that the "Day of the Lord" and the rapture are either synonymous or somehow linked together.
The Achilles heel of their argument has to be the notion that the "Day of the Lord" and various other "days" of an end-time context refers to a 24 hour period that occurs at or near the end of the tribulation. Probably the most commonly cited verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:2 where Paul tells us the "Day of the Lord" will come "as a thief in the night."
I've read countless articles that describe the "Day of the Lord" as Christ's advent at Armageddon. These articles go on to say that, because Paul also tells us the Lord will come "as a thief," we have a direct link to the same description that is applied to noted rapture verses.
It's rather obvious that those trying to rely on the "Day of the Lord" never bothered to validate the meaning of this particular day. I've checked a number of commentaries on the "Day of the Lord" and many of them define this as being an all-encompassing period that begins with the Great Tribulation. Let's examine some verses that clearly indicate that the term "day" is used to represent a broader time period.
II Peter 3:10-13
The "Day of the Lord" Peter spoke of in second Peter, cannot be a one day event because it mentions the destruction of the earth by fire and its renovation. Rev 21:11 tells us the earth will not be renewed until after Christ's 1000 year reign.
Joel 2:11-20
The "Day of the Lord" Joel describes, includes the defeat of the northern army. Ezk. 38 and 39 is parallel passage. Most scholars would time the destruction of the Gog army as occurring before in the first half of the tribulation.
John 12:48
In the book of John, Jesus uses the term "last day" to indicate when the lost would be judged. Rev 20 makes it clear that the unsaved will not be judged until after the millennium--yet another 1000 year gap.
Hebrews 10:25
One of the best indications that most of the various “day” references are citing a general time period can be found in Hebrews 10:25: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Surely, Paul would not be warning us to watch for a day that would be coming at the end of the tribulation. That type of logic would be like warning children, as they cross the road, to watch out for tail lights.
The First Resurrection
I've heard some folks say, "There cannot be a pre-trib rapture because to have one would require a second resurrection at Christ's return to earth." This conclusion is drawn from Revelation 20:
"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Rev 20:5-6).
One pre-trib writer, explaining this passage, said, "The first did not mean first in time, but rather first in kind." The first resurrection was for God's people the second will be for the unsaved.
A quick way to shoot down the notion that the first resurrection is tied to a specific date, as opposed to a more general time frame, is to take note of the tribulation rapture of the two witnesses and the 144,000 Jewish evangelists. At the mid-point of the tribulation, the two witnesses are killed by the Antichrist, resurrected by God, and then caught up into heaven (Rev 11:3-12).
Revelation chapter 7 describes the sealing of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists just before the Beast issues his mark. Sometime during the latter half of the tribulation, Revelation chapter 14 indicates they will be "redeemed from the earth," standing before the throne of God.
Confusion over Confusion: 2 Thes 2:1-6
Because Paul, in 2 Thessalonians, said the Antichrist would be revealed before the Day of the Christ, post and pre-wrath adherents frequently try to cite this passage as one that refutes the pre-trib rapture.
To quell the Thessalonian's misunderstanding that they had somehow entered the tribulation, Paul told them the Antichrist must first be revealed. By telling them they had no reason to panic, Paul is clearly disputing the idea that the Thessalonians could someday find themselves facing the tribulation hour.
I'm constantly being irked by Post-trib and pre-wrath folks' consistent, or better yet deliberate, failure to accept the simple fact that the pre-trib doctrine calls for a rapture and a second coming. Because they only glean the prophetic word for one event--the second coming--they're unable to recognize pre-trib rapture passages.
Of course, when you fuse the two advents together, you end up with verses that appear to contradict each other: 1 Thessalonians 5:9, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," and Revelation 13:7, "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations."
Reverse Logic Stuck In Reverse
Many people are against the pre-trib rapture simply because they see it as being the dominant view on the timing of Christ's return for the Church. The anti-pretribulationists often think they are the last remaining true believers. I'm simply dumbfounded over why some people choose rebellion against the majority view as their guide for finding truth.
The measurement of popularity alone is a terrible way to determine something's validity. It is particularly strange when people solely rely on the contrarian view to judge truth from fiction. I utilize contrarian views all the time to help determine what is truthful; however, it would be a terrible mistake on my part if I made Contrarianism the core foundation of any of my beliefs.
If you're using reverse logic, you need to support your conclusions. The vast majority of the population would agree that apples grow on apple trees and cherries grow on cheery trees. The pure novelty of the opposite being true does not in any way help make it so. Unless you see farmers gluing apples onto cherry trees or picking cherries from apple trees, you have no basis to think that these two fruits do not grow on anything but the trees that share the same name.
Some people are clearly more in love with the idea of a conspiracy than they are the truth. Every time an airplane crashes to the earth there's someone who will proclaim it was caused by anything from an act of terrorism to a bizarre government plot. It's just not exciting enough to say it was a mechanical problem that led to the crash.
The idea that the pre-trib rapture is the dominant view is not correct in the first place. Most evangelicals would say they look for a pre-trib rapture, but if you include all Christians, pretribulationists would rank third behind post-trib and preterist adherents.
Persecute Me Please
You would think the desire to go through the tribulation would be as popular as the desire to jump into a pit filled with vipers and broken glass. As illogical as it may seem, there appears to be a large number of Christians that fully expect to get roughed up before Christ returns.
Many Christians argue strongly for the right to suffer persecution at the hands of the Antichrist and the one world government. These tribulation saint wannabees constantly harp, "Because Jesus and His disciples suffered persecution, we should expect no better." It's been my experience that people with the weakest faith are generally the ones that talk the boldest. When the slightest difficulty comes their way, they cry to high heaven.
I hate to be the bearer of good news, but the word of God clearly states that believers will escape the tribulation bloodbath. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thes 5:9). "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev 3:10).
In one regard, people who think the Church will go through the tribulation are somewhat correct. I believe there will be a huge number of "carnal Christians" that will find themselves left behind. By having the rapture before the tribulation, all those who find themselves facing the wrath of God will be without an excuse.
No Secret Rapture
"There is no secret rapture" is the beginning declaration of a large percentage of messages that attack the rapture. Rarely is this statement backed by supporting scriptural evidence. A few people will cite Rev 1:17, "every eye shall see him," as proof that the rapture will not be a secret event. Of course, I would immediately note that "every eye shall see him" is the second coming.
I have a hard time understanding how these folks could think pretribulationists preach a secret rapture. We seem to be doing our very best to popularize the rapture before it takes place. I doubt that, afterwards, with all the car wrecks, plane crashes, and missing persons reports, the rapture will remain a secret occurrence.
The only people I know who are attempting to keep the pre-trib rapture a secret are its critics. Pre-wrath and post-trib folks have the national media and the liberal churches as their allies in their ongoing effort to silence all knowledge of the "blessed hope."
No Imminency
Because an imminent or any moment rapture is one of the major teachings of pre-tribulationists, opponents of this view attempt to dismantle the imminency of the rapture.
Although Jesus said, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (Mat 24:42), advocates for knowing the "day" will claim this only applies to the unsaved. I hear arguments like, "Surely a loving father would tell his own children when he's coming for them."
To try to get around "no man know the hour," a popular scripture often cited is: "But yea brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief" (1 Thes 5:4).
Despite all their monkeying with scripture, pre-trib detractors just cannot escape Jesus' restriction against knowing the timing of the rapture. In fact, our Lord was so restrictive about the rapture, He said its occurrence would come as a total surprise. "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 24:44).
Now as far as the second coming goes, the Bible couldn't be plainer. It clearly states that Jesus will return 1260 days from the moment the Antichrist sits in the Temple of God and declares himself to be God. Because there exists both a known and an unknown date, many scholars have logically concluded that there must be two different events occurring--the rapture and the second coming.
The Restrainer
In 2 Thessalonians the Apostle Paul speaks of a "he" that will restrain the advent of the Antichrist. The restrainer's removal is required before the Antichrist can be revealed.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."
A debate has erupted over the identity of the Restrainer because if this "he" is the Holy Ghost, the only real explanation for his removal would be the rapture of the Church, which is indwelled by him. The strongest argument offered against the Holy Spirit being the Restrainer is the belief that if God's Spirit was ever removed from the earth, no one could then be saved. The removal of the Holy Ghost does not have to be an all or nothing proposition. I believe his being "taken out of the way" will only be a degree of removal.
Before the Church Age, people were able to find salvation, which obviously meant the Holy Spirit was at work on earth. When the outpouring of the Holy Ghost occurred at Pentecost, we didn't have a second Holy Spirit come to earth. His removal at the rapture will only be a reversal or ending of the Pentecostal outpouring.
Replacementism
Because Revelation places a strong emphasis on Israel during the tribulation, and not on the church, most post-tribulationists have adopted a replacement theology view in order to maintain the focus on them.
Replacementism is the view that Israel, having failed God, has been replaced by the Church. The Church is now seen as spiritual Israel and spiritual Jerusalem. This teaching claims that all the promises and blessings, in fact Israel's entire inheritance, now belongs to the Church. However, all is not lost for Israel; it gets to keep all the curses.
Dispensational theology, taught by nearly all pre-tribulationists, teaches that God has separate strategies for dealing with the Church and the Jews. When you consider the change in focus, during the tribulation, from the Church to Israel, the pre-trib rapture provides a good explanation for this transfer of attention.
To say that Israel is no longer God's chosen people is really playing with fire because the Antichrist will likely be saying the same thing when he tries to destroy the Jews during the tribulation. I look for people that hold to replacementism to be in the cheering section when the Beast goes on his Jew-killing campaign. "The Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance" (Psalm 94:14).
"This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - the Lord Almighty is his name: 'Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,' declares the Lord, 'will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me'" (Jeremiah 31:35-36)."
MORE INFO-- THIS ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION IN DETAIL REGARDING WHAT THE RAPTURE IS, EXACTLY.
Rapture: When Jesus Christ comes for his church and takes them home to be with him. Anyone who believes in and has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and personal savior will be included in the rapture. The rapture is the next big event, on the prophetic calendar. It is an event that can happen at any moment, since all prophetic signs have come to pass.
Exactly what will happen when the rapture takes place: total chaos. Millions of people will simply just vanish off the face of the Earth without a trace. This will cause world wide riots and socio-economic collapse like the world has never seen and never will see again. Although, the word rapture doesn't appear in the Bible, the notion of 'being caught up' is mentioned by Paul in 1 Cor
1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
And again in 1 Thes
1 Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1 Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1 Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Before the Tribulation begins, Jesus Christ will come back for his church (the body of Christ)
1 Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
This is sometimes called the 'escapist' theory. Suggesting that Christians will escape God's wrath and be taken to perfect safety. The above verse just told us that we are NOT appointed to wrath. We believe in Jesus as savior there is nothing left for us to prove. The total price was paid by Christ at Calvary. There is no need for the church to pay another debt.
Some people say that the church must be cleansed, that there are Christians that aren't really Christians. Don't worry about it. God knows who these hypocrites are and they aren't going any where. Lets not condemn that entire apple orchid for a rotten few.!
Key Verses As To The Time Of The Rapture
There are four major theories concerning the Rapture.
Pre-Tribulation: By far the most popular theory. This point of view states that no Christian will go through the Tribulation. The rapture will also be pre-millennial.
Mid-Tribulation: The church will be here during the trumpet judgements, for the first 3.5 years of the rapture but will not be here for the last 3.5 years known as the Great Tribulation. This position still supports the pre-millennial view.
Post Tribulation: Believe that the church will be on Earth during the entire 7 year period of the Tribulation. This view is the hardest to support in scripture. It is also the most unscriptural point of view.
No Rapture(Dominion Doctrine): Believe that the second coming and the rapture as one in the same. Their doctrine is totally incorrect. As Christians, we are to seek after the things above not on earthly things (Col 3:1-2)and wait for our savior returns (Phil 3:20).
The following table will list and compare the first three rapture views and how key verses in scripture relate to each one. Yes signifies that the verse supports that specific rapture doctrine.
Scripture Pre-Trib Mid-Trib Post-Trib
Mat 24:26-51 Yes Yes Yes
Mark 13:21-37 Yes Yes Yes
Luke 17:20-37 Yes Yes Yes
Luke 21:20-36 Yes Yes Yes
John 14:2-3 Yes Yes Yes
Romans 5:9 Yes No No
1 Cor 15:50-58 Yes Yes Yes
Phil 3:20-21 Yes Yes Yes
1 Thes 1:9-10 Yes No No
1 Thes 2:19 Yes Yes Yes
1 Thes 3:13 Yes Yes Yes
1 Thes 4:13-5:11 Yes No No
2 Thes 1:5-10 Yes Yes Yes
2 Thes 2:1-12 Yes No No
2 Thes 3:6-15 Yes Yes Yes
Titus 2:12-13 Yes Yes Yes
1 Peter 2:12 Yes Yes No
Rev 3:7-22 Yes No No
There are some other verses that were omitted from this table because they deserve special attention and a special explanation. See Misinterpreted Verses Concerning The Rapture.
Why The Church Will Not Go Through The Tribulation
These points tells us why the church will not go through the Tribulation.
Saftey From The Wrath Of God: The church is the bride of Christ. The bride will not go through the Tribulation.
1Thes 5:9
Rom 5:9
2Pet 2:9
1Thes 1:10
Joel 2:28-31
Mal 4:2
Zep 1:14-18
The Blessed Hope: The return of the Lord can happen at any time. If the Lord was to return at Mid-Trib or Post-Trib then scripture would be wrong in teaching that the Lord can return at anytime since these two points of view know when he will come back for the church this goes against scripture.
Acts 1:11
Matt 24:40-44
John 14:3
James 5:8
Titus 2:12-13
1John 2:28, 3:2-3
No Trial for the Church: The church will be kept from the "time of trial" Rev 3:10. This is also supported by Titus 2:13-14.
Revelation Of The Anti-Christ: 2Thes 2:1-10 States that the man of lawlessness will not be revealed until "he" is taken out of the world.
Misinterpreted Verses Concerning The Rapture
The first verses are Rev 6:9-8:5. These verses are a favorite of the Mid and Post Tribbers. The viewpoint of these verses, the mid and post tribbers feel, support the notion that the church (key word here) will be martyred for their witness of Jesus Christ. The time of the rapture as seen by John in Revelation 4 is when the church is raptured. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 are the results and furthers actions of the rapture (the trigger effect). Chapters 4-7 occur simultaneously at the Rapture. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are the direct effects of the rapture occurring.
Other parts of Revelation have been misinterpreted is supporting these two views: Rev 12 and Rev 19 are two other chapters in Revelation that people have misunderstood.
Daniel 12 is another chapter that describes a Mid or Post rapture view but this chapter is really describing the conditions and some events of the tribulation.
What To Do If You Are Left Behind
If you are not a Christian you won't be going when Jesus comes for his church. You'll be left in a world of total chaos, economic collapse, civil war, large scale riots and twenty one pending judgements of GOD. I don't envy you at all. The good news is that it doesn't last forever, just seven years (The Tribulation).
So, what should you do?
Accept Jesus Christ as your savior and messiah. It won't change your circumstance, but you will be on the winning side and you will enter the Millennial Kingdom (Messianic Kingdom).
Do not take any marks, micro chips or tattoos in your forehead or right hand! This is thedreaded Mark of the Beast.
Do not worship idols of any man, woman, or object.
Stand firm on your faith in Jesus Christ, even in the face of death.
Do not believe anything the world tells you. Remember the world is all lies, lies, lies! The world, with the help of the liberal media, will try their best to blame the disappearance on UFO's or some form of spiritual evolution. Do not believe this for a moment.
Rosh HaShanah (Feast Of Trumpets).
The Feasts Are The Central Core To Understanding The Bible And How God Works
Jesus has sequentially fulfilled each of the feasts in order. The next feast to be fulfilled is Rosh HaShanah (Feast Of Trumpets).
We don't know what year the Rapture will happen. But it will happen during the Rosh HaShanah period (mid September to mid October). Paul tells us that we already know of these times(feasts).
1 Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
THE TRIBULATION
THE TRIBULATION
This document will describe the events before and after the tribulation. It will also explain such topics of the judgments of God, crowns for the believers, the 144,000, and the two witnesses.
The Tribulation - Why and When?
The world is subjected to judgments because of sin. Judgments like the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah were due to God having to judge sin.
Jesus warned that the most terrible period of judgment is yet to come.
(Mat 24:21 NKJV) "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
This will be the tribulation. Why? Because sin must be judged and evil punished. This 7 year period when God will judge the world for its sin and when God will judge Israel this will be the most horrible time the world will ever witness.
Once this final earthly judgment has been made God can restore the Earth to the way it was before sin had entered the Garden of Eden.
Is there any warning before the Tribulation?
We know that the Rapture will probably trigger the events that will allow for the Anti-Christ to take power. It will also bring to pass the four horsemen of the Apocalypse which will be the results of the rapture.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Judgments of the Bible
There are 10 judgments that can be found in the scripture. judgments can be found in the past, present, and future.
Past Judgments
The Flood (Gen 6)
Sodom and Gomarrah (Gen 19)
Judgment at Calvary (The Cross) (John 16)
Present Judgments
Self judgment of the Believers(1 Cor 11:31)
Judgment Of Carnal Believers(1 Cor 11:28-31)
Judgment Of Fallen Angels(2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6)
Future Judgments
Judgment Seat Of Christ(Bema)
(2 Cor 5:10 NKJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
At the rapture all believers will receive their glorified bodies. This judgment takes place sometime around the mid-point of the Tribulation but the judgment is not on Earth but in the heavenlies.
(Rev 11:18 NKJV) The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."
Judgment Of The Living Jews
The judgment of the nation of Israel will take place during the tribulation and the nation will repent.
(Mal 3:2-5 NKJV) "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years. And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien; Because they do not fear Me," Says the LORD of hosts.
judgment Of The Nations(Sheep and Goat judgment)
The judgment of individual gentiles alive of the end of the Tribulation. The unsaved go to eternal torments and the saved will enter the millennial kingdom.
(Mat 25:32-41 NKJV) "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
The unsaved have taken (willingly)the mark of the beast either in the right hand or in the forehead which show allegiance to the satanic kingdom set up by the Anti-christ during the tribulation(one world government, economy, and religion).
The Great White Throne Judgment
After the 1,000 years, all the unbelievers will be resurrected, give an account for their lives, and confess that Jesus Christ is lord. After this judgment they will suffer eternal separation from God.
Rev 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
The 144,000
The Two Witnesses
Daniel's 70th Week
Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls Judgments Explained
Salvation In The Tribulation
Although the church is not present in the tribulation it is still possible to be saved. Through the witnessing of the 144,000 Jews and the powerful testimonies of the two witnesses many will come to know Christ as savior, both Jew and Gentile. However accepting Christ as Lord in the tribulation will not be easy. The Anti-Christ demands that everyone takes a mark those who do not worship the image of teh beast or accepts his mark will be beheaded. The only person that would be against such a system is a Christian. Part of the mesage of the 144,000 will be to avoid and reject the Anit-Christ's world system.
(Rev 20:4 NKJV) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Is Heaven Real?
Yes, it is. It is a fact that heaven is an actual place. Jesus told us about it in John 14.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Heaven is a real place only one of two places you can go to after you die. Isn't there another alternative? Yes, HELL. Heaven is a wonderful place beyond the imagination of anyone who has ever lived. Words can not describe it.
1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Psa 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Why Can't Everyone Go To Heaven?
Everyone can that's the beauty of the message of grace and the work of Jesus Christ. People send themselves to hell, not God.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Saved from what? The fiery depths of Hell.
Who Is Going To Heaven?
People who believed in the finished work of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
Will My Soul Sleep?
NO! Your last second on Earth is your first second in Heaven. Soul sleeping is a lie. Do not believe it.
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Be assured that Jesus will be there the moment that you die. You'll see Lord of all creation. You'll experience a feeling of love and peace that you've never known. You'll be in paradise!
What Will Heaven Be Like?
Heaven is where Jesus is present. To be in his presence is Heaven and fulness of joy.
Psa 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
John gives us a magnificent description of Heaven in Revelation.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
It is beyond description. Jesus tells us not to miss Heaven no matter what we have to do. You don't want to miss Heaven.
Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Will There Be Animals In Heaven?
Yes, there will be all kinds of animals in Heaven.
Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
I would say that there are animals in Heaven. All species found on Earth and even new ones. Remember we can only imagine half of what Heaven is like.
1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Paul is telling us that we should dream what Heaven is like. No matter how hard we try, no matter how great our imagination, we can only visualize half of the splendor of Heaven. Heaven will be wonderful indeed.
We Will Know Each Other.
Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Peter, James and John recognized Moses and Elias, who were born hundreds of years before. Yet, they still recognized Moses and Elias.
1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
We will know everyone, those who we met and loved in this life and those we never met.
Not Of Works, But Grace.
There are many religions that teach faith plus works is necessary in order to get into heaven. Stay away from these teachings because they are false.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
I am not condemning doing any of these things but do not rely solely on them for your salvation. It is a gift. You do not earn a gift.
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
No matter how hard you might try you can never earn salvation. It is written. This is what God says.
I ncorrect Teachings About Heaven
Good Works
Giving Of Money
Church Membership
Faith Plus Works
Practice Of Religion
Find out how to become a Christian, so you can have a home in Heaven and forever be with the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Does Hell Really Exist?
Yes, you better believe it does. Jesus spoke twice as much about Hell as He did about Heaven. He didn't want anyone to go there. A warning from God himself. Hell is a real physical place.
Satan Is Alive And Well!
The same level of truth concerning Hell can be applied to the topic of Satan (The Devil). Some people don't believe in him either. Guess what? If you don't believe in Satan then one of his little demons is whispering in your ear right now. Behind you! No, you can't see it. But believe me it's there. Here's a short outline of Satan's most powerful lies that he wants you to believe.
Satan wants to convince you that he doesn't exist.
Satan attacks the word of God, and tries to prove it is not true.
Satan wants to convince you to put off being saved today.
Watch out for these lies and hold fast to the truth. Satan controls 80% of the world's religions and 100% of the world's politics. - Mark Twain And he created most of the world's religions as well. He has done everything in his power to muddy the waters of truth. What is truth? That Jesus is the son of God, the only son of God. And to be saved, and to go to heaven one must believe in him and him alone.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Hell Isn't Party Time
Many people believe that Hell is party time for those who wanted to live their lives as they wanted without being obdient to God. These people also believe that all their friends will be in Hell and it will be one big party. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Interview with a denizen of Hell <18K>.
A young woman tells us what Hell is really like. <33K>
Who's Going To Hell?
If you happen to find one of the following charateristics describe you do not fret or get upset. All of these characteristics are sins. Jesus Christ will forgive you of these sins and then you can go to Heaven. Jesus Christ must be your savior and Lord, ask to be forgiven, repent of your sins and you will go to heaven. God loves you and he wants none to perish into enternal damnation. What are the characteristics of the people are going to hell:
Whoremongers Liars Backbiters
Thieves Murderers Adulterers
Haters Of God False Accusers The Unmerciful
2 Tim 3:2-6
The bible is very clear as to who is going into ever lasting fire:
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
It seems that anyone that isn't in the 'book of life' is going to the lake fo fire. When the only way to avoid hell is to become a Christian, why not make a decision to become one today? The Bible says all you must do is believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Then once you are a Christian , God will write your name in the 'book of life' so you can go to Heaven. It is that easy.
TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN
To become a Christian and take Jesus Christ as your personal savior is a very wonderful thing and a very easy thing to do.
Why must I be saved to go to Heaven and to have eternal life?
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
What do I have to do to be saved?
Admit that you are a sinner.
Be willing to turn from sin (repent).
Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried and rose from the dead.
Say the following prayer inviting Jesus into your life to become your personal savior.
Just say this prayer with all your heart and you will become a Christian, be saved and have eternal life.
Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ shed his precious blood and died for my sin on the cross, and rose again on the third day. I believe in the Gospel. I accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior and ask him to come into my heart as my personal savior. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
God Bless You!
If you said this prayer and really meant it, I'd like to be the first to welcome you to the family of God. Go tell someone about our Lord, Jesus Christ, and how you now have eternal life. Today is your day of salvation. Always remember it and be proud to be a Christian. Take a tour of Heaven. Or, start your journey through the blessed word of the Lord, The Holy Bible.
I'm a Christian! Now what must I do?
Read your Bible every day to get to know Jesus Christ better.
Be baptized, worship and serve Christ in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority.
Tell others about Jesus Christ.
Talk to God in prayer every day.
For more info, go to wayofthemaster.com, and read the Left Behind series by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins
Later Post--
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
In the Bible, there is no mention of the word "Rapture". So what does the word rapture mean?
In definition, the rapture is the gathering of souls, or believers, to depart from this world and to be
with the Lord, for ever and ever (everlasting life). So then what scriptures relate to the so-called
"Rapture". In the bible this called the second coming of the Lord, or advent. The last coming is
what is done when the Lord (Jesus Christ) sets foot on earth, please look at the web page on
Tribulation Period for the wrath of God upon mankind.
These are the scriptural verses that identify the raputre. and the coming of the Lord.
Why is Jesus Christ so important:
Rom 14:9 "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord
both of the dead and living."
The Lord Jesus Christ Prepareth a Place:
Joh 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."
Joh 14:2 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
Joh 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also."
Joh 14:5 "Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can
we know the way?"
Joh 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me."
The dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
1Th 4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive
[and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are
asleep."
1Th 4:16 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first:"
1Th 4:17 "Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
1Th 4:18 "Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
How quick will the Rapture happen:
1Th 4:16 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first:"
1Co 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
Mat 24:17 "Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his
house:"
Mat 24:18 "Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes."
We will be changed, givin a Holy Body, corruptable becoming uncorruptable, mortal
becoming immortal:
1Co 15:51 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed,"
1Co 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
1Co 15:53 "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on
immortality."
Jesus Christ will represent us:
Joh 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also."
1Th 4:17 "Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
The Judgement Seat of Jesus Christ:
Rom 14:10 "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy
brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."
2Co 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one
may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done,
whether [it be] good or bad."
Detailed discription of the Judgement Seat of Jesus Christ:
1Co 3:11 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
1Co 3:12 "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, stubble;"
1Co 3:13 "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because
it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort
it is."
1Co 3:14 "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."
1Co 3:15 "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be
saved; yet so as by fire."
Jesus Christ shall judge us by our works, to give us our rewards, this is not a
judgement of being sent to hell or not. Some will recieve great rewards, will
others will just get the reward of heaven and everlasting life. To me this is a great
reward in itself. All the other rewards are just bonuses. This is how it differs from
the judgement of the Great White Thrown Judgement. Then, we shall recieve our
new name, which will be written on a white stone.
When and how will Jesus Christ Come:
Mat 24:42 "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
Mat 24:43 "But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief
would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be
broken up."
Mat 24:44 "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh."
Act 1:9 "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a
cloud received him out of their sight."
Act 1:10 "And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men
stood by them in white apparel;"
Act 1:11 "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this
same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
1Th 1:10 "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even]
Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."
So now that we have defined what the "rapture" means, when will it take place? By the
looks of how everything is going on in this world, I would say that it may only be a matter
of days until this great event happens.